Vaccinating cats and kittens

Cat vaccinations help to protect your pets from severe infectious diseases. It also prevents them from passing anything nasty on to other animals in the area. Vaccinating your kitten is one of the most important things you should do in your first few weeks as a cat owner.

When should kittens be vaccinated?

To help protect kittens they'll need two sets of vaccinations to get them started. Kittens should have their first set of vaccinations at nine weeks old and at three months old they should receive the second set to boost their immune system. After this, kittens and cats usually need 'booster' vaccinations every twelve months.

Until your kitten is fully vaccinated (and neutered), you should keep him or her inside.

What diseases can vaccinations protect against?

Cats are commonly vaccinated against:

Cat flu (feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus)

Feline infectious enteritis

Feline leukaemia virus

Your vet can advise which vaccinations your cat or kitten will need to help protect them from infectious diseases.

Who can vaccinate my kitten?

When you get your kitten, one of the first things you should do is register them with a local vet who will be able to carry out the vaccinations your kitten needs.

How much do cat vaccinations cost?

Prices can vary from practice to practice and costs will depend on which vaccinations your cat or kitten receives. Speak to your vet to see if they offer a health care plan for your pet, which allows you to spread the cost of preventative veterinary treatment such as regular health checks, annual vaccinations and flea and worm treatments.

How long are vaccinations effective for?

Some vaccines are given as booster injections every year. Your vet will provide you with a vaccination record which you will need to keep safe.

What if I adopted my kitten - will they be vaccinated?

If you choose to adopt a kitten or cat from us, they will be vaccinated before they leave our care. That's one of the reasons we charge an adoption fee when we rehome an animal. Some kittens may be rehomed before they are ready for their second set of vaccinations, if this is the case we will will let you know and may arrange for you and your kitten to come back at a later date - otherwise you can make arrangements with your local vet.